Wages Regulation Orders 2012
This Alert summarises the Wages Regulation Orders gazetted on 30 October 2012 (WROs) pursuant to the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007 (ERP). The WROs follow proposals that were gazetted on 29 June 2012 and written submissions that were invited to be made.
The WROs affect workers in the industries listed below whose minimum rate of remuneration does not exceed $250 per week:
| WRO (Industry) | Legal Notice |
| Wages Regulation (Building and Civil and Electrical Engineering Trades) Order 2012 | LN 72 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Garment Industry) Order 2012 | LN 73 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Hotel and Catering Trades) Order 2012 | LN 74 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Manufacturing Industry) Order 2012 | LN 75 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Mining and Quarrying Industry) Order 2012 | LN 76 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Printing Trades) Order 2012 | LN 77 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Road Transport) Order 2012 | LN 78 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Sawmilling and Logging Industry) Order 2012 | LN 79 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Security Services) Order 2012 | LN 80 of 2012 |
| Wages Regulation (Wholesale and Retail Trades) Order 2012 | LN 81 of 2012 |
Overview of changes
The common proposed change across all industries is an increase in the rates of pay of between approximately 7-10% from the 8-15% initially proposed.
In some industries there are increases in meal allowances, subsistence allowances, split shift allowances and night allowances. In other industries, new definitions and categories of worker have been introduced.
The WROs are effective 31 October 2012.
The table below summarises the key changes. The rates shown are the lowest and highest hourly rates in the range of minimum wage rates set out in the respective WROs and the percentages are estimates only:
| Industry | 2011 (effective 1 May 2011 – now revoked) |
Proposed WROs (proposed in August 2012) |
2012 (effective 31 October 2012) |
| Building and Civil and Electrical Engineering Trades |
Rates $2.38-4.62Subsistence allowance $4.60 if quarters provided $6.60 if quarters and meals not provided Meal allowance |
Rates $2.74-5.31 – 15% increaseSubsistence allowance $6.50 if quarters provided $8.60 if quarters and meals not provided Meal allowance |
Rates $2.57-4.98 – 7.9% increaseSubsistence allowance $6.50 if quarters provided $8.60 if quarters and meals not provided Meal allowance |
| Garment | Rates $1.65-1.96Meal allowance $5.50 or a decent hot meal |
Rates $1.80-2.15 – 9.9% increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal |
Rates $1.81-2.15 – 9.9% increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal |
| Hotel and Catering Trades | Rates Licensed Undertaking $2.75-2.97Unlicensed Undertaking $2.53-2.70 Split Shift allowance Night shift allowance Meal allowance |
Rates Licensed Undertaking $3.16-3.36 – 15% increaseUnlicensed Undertaking $2.91-3.11 – 15% increase Split Shift allowance Night shift allowance Meal allowance |
Rates Licensed Undertaking $2.97-3.20 – 7.9% increaseUnlicensed Undertaking $2.73-2.91 – 7.9% increase Split Shift allowance Night shift allowance Meal allowance |
| Manufacturing | Rates $2.75 Casual – $3.44Meal allowance $5.50 or a decent hot meal Night shift allowance |
Rates $3.10 – 13% increase Casual – 25% more than aboveMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal Night shift allowance |
Rates $3.02 – 9.9% increase Casual – $3.78Meal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal Night shift allowance |
| Mining and Quarrying | Rates Underground – $2.63- 4.03 Surface – $2.48-3.87Meal allowance $5.50 or a decent hot meal Other allowances Tool: $70 per annum |
Rates Mining Underground – $2.95- 4.51 – 12% increase Surface – $2.78-4.33 – 12% increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal Quarrying Other allowances Tool: $70 per annum |
Rates Mining Underground – $2.84- 4.35 – 7.9% increase Surface – $2.68-4.18 – 7.9% increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot mealQ Quarrying Other allowances Tool: $70 per annum |
| Printing Trades | Rates $2.42-2.92Meal allowance $5.50 or a decent hot meal |
Rates $2.65-3.30/3.35 – 9.5%- 15% increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal |
Rates $2.61-3.15 – 7.9% increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal |
| Road Transport | Rates Other Operators $1.43-3.10 Buses and Taxi Operators $1.40-2.97Subsistence allowance $10.00 if quarters provided $20.00 if quarters not provided Meal allowance |
Rates Other Operators $1.64-3.57 – 15% increase Buses and Taxi Operators $1.54-3.27 – 10% increaseSubsistence allowance $10.00 if quarters provided $20.00 if quarters not provided Meal allowance |
Rates Other Operators $1.57-3.41 – 10% increase Buses and Taxi Operators $1.54-3.16 – 10% increaseSubsistence allowance $10.00 if quarters provided $20.00 if quarters not provided Meal allowance |
| Sawmilling and Logging | Rates $3.16-4.69Subsistence allowance $15.00 Meal allowance |
Rates $3.56-5.28 – 12.5% increaseSubsistence allowance $17.00 Meal allowance |
Rates $3.49-5.18 – 10.4% increaseSubsistence allowance $17.00 Meal allowance |
| Security Services | Rates $2.20 Casual – $2.75Meal allowance $5.50 or a decent hot meal |
Rates $2.42 – 10% increase Casual – $3.03Meal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal |
Rates $2.41 – 9.7% increase Casual – $3.01Meal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal |
| Wholesale and Retail Trades | Rates $2.53-3.19Meal allowance $5.50 or a decent hot meal Subsistence allowance |
Rates $2.78-3.44 – 25 cents increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal Subsistence allowance |
Rates $2.73-3.44 – 7.9% increaseMeal allowance $6.00 or a decent hot meal Subsistence allowance |
To obtain copies of the WROs
For further details we recommend you review the WRO that affects you as this summary may not contain all changes that are now in effect.
Please visit: https://www.munroleyslaw.com/notice-of-wages-regulation-proposals/ to download a copy.
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Contact Jon Apted for further information on this Alert.
Disclaimer
The information and opinions in this Legal Alert are for general information purposes only. They are not intended as specific legal or other professional advice and should not be relied upon or treated as a substitute for specific advice. Munro Leys can accept no responsibility for any loss arising from reliance on the general information contained in this Legal Alert.